A vehicle electric power generation apparatus includes an electric power generator, a first electric power storage, a second electric power storage, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and an electric power generation controller. The controller sets, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the first storage and sets, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the second storage, and raises, when the generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, a generated voltage derived from the generator higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage. When the terminal voltage of the first storage reaches the first allowable voltage or the terminal voltage of the second storage reaches the second allowable voltage, the controller prevents the generated voltage of the generator from rising.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A vehicle electric power generation apparatus comprising: an electric power generator coupled to a wheel via a power transmission path; a first electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator; a second electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator and coupled to the first electric power storage in parallel; a first voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the first electric power storage; a second voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the second electric power storage; and an electric power generation controller configured to; set, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage; set, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage; when the electric power generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, raise a generated voltage derived from the electric power generator to a first generated voltage, wherein the first generated voltage is higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage; after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is lower than the first allowable voltage and the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is lower than the second allowable voltage, further raise the generated voltage; and after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is equal to or higher than the first allowable voltage or the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is equal to or higher than the second allowable voltage, lower the generated voltage.
2. The vehicle electric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first conduction path coupled to a positive terminal of the electric power generator; a second conduction path coupled to a positive terminal of the first electric power storage; a third conduction path coupled to a positive terminal of the second electric power storage; and a node that couples the first conduction path, the second conduction path, and the third conduction path to one another, wherein electric resistance of the first conduction path and electric resistance of the second conduction path are set to allow the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage to be lower than the first allowable voltage, when the generated voltage of the electric power generator is set to the first generated voltage, and the electric resistance of the first conduction path and electric resistance of the third conduction path are set to allow the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage to be lower than the second allowable voltage, when the generated voltage of the electric power generator is set to the first generated voltage.
3. A vehicle electric power generation apparatus comprising: an electric power generator coupled to a wheel via a power transmission path; a first electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator; a second electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator and coupled to the first electric power storage in parallel; a first voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the first electric power storage; a second voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the second electric power storage; and circuitry configured to set, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage, set, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage, when the electric power generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, raise a generated voltage derived from the electric power generator to a first generated voltage, wherein the first generated voltage is higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage; after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is lower than the first allowable voltage and the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is lower than the second allowable voltage, further raise the generated voltage; and after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is equal to or higher than the first allowable voltage or the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is equal to or higher than the second allowable voltage, lower the generated voltage.
4. A vehicle electric power generation apparatus comprising: an electric power generator coupled to a wheel via a power transmission path; a first electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator; a second electric power storage coupled to the electric power generator and coupled to the first electric power storage in parallel; a first voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the first electric power storage; a second voltage detector configured to detect a terminal voltage of the second electric power storage; and an electric power generation controller configured to: set, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage, wherein the first allowable voltage comprises a first low-voltage side voltage and a first high-voltage side voltage that is higher than the first low-voltage side voltage; set, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage, wherein the second allowable voltage comprises a second low-voltage side voltage and a second high-voltage side voltage that is higher than the second low-voltage side voltage; when the electric power generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, raise a generated voltage derived from the electric power generator to a first generated voltage, wherein the first generated voltage is higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage; after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is lower than the first low-voltage side voltage and the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is lower than the second low-voltage side voltage, further raise the generated voltage; after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is equal to or higher than the first high-voltage side voltage or the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is equal to or higher than the second high-voltage side voltage, lower the generated voltage; and after the generated voltage is raised to the first generated voltage, when the terminal voltage of the first electric power storage is equal to or higher than the first low-voltage side voltage and lower than the first high-voltage side voltage or the terminal voltage of the second electric power storage is equal to or higher than the second low-voltage side voltage and lower than the second high-voltage side voltage, maintain the generated voltage at the first generated voltage.
5. The vehicle electric power generation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein an internal resistance of the second electric power storage is higher than an internal resistance of the first electric power storage.
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October 19, 2018
January 12, 2021
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